Finding Hawk (Branches of Emrys Book 3) Read online

  The pillar melted away, revealing her bedroom when she was so little, her dad smiling down at her.

  “I’m always here, little dove. The gift you seek is beneath the sand.

  He dropped to his knees, bending to shovel. She joined him, as she continued to weave the spell. Time seemed suspended even though they continued a hurried pace. Then her fingers scraped something hard and she wrapped her hand around cool metal and stones.

  She pulled a piece of jewelry out and held it to her chest as she looked into her father’s eyes.

  “You’re on the right path. Follow your heart. Without his guidance, you’ll be lost.”

  “You’re my guidance,” she whispered. “I’m here because of you.”

  He wiped her tears away and pulled her in for a hug. “No, baby, not anymore. You found your other half. No more running.” He started to fade away.

  She held on tighter. “Don’t go, Daddy. We need you.”

  “I’m always by your side. Don’t you ever forget that.” He faded away as light burst through the etchings on the pillar.

  * * * *

  Chatan sat at the back of the room, wishing he wasn’t there, listening to the elders discuss what he already knew. The whole damned town was there, except Jacinda, of course.

  Even Taryn and Loretta had shown up. Apparently, they couldn’t convince Jacinda to stick around with them. Considering she was used to being on her own, he couldn’t totally blame her.

  “Chill, dude,” Loval murmured.

  “Trying. Got a bad feeling.”

  “Really think your girl is going to find trouble staying in the motel room?”

  “Not if she stays put. I don’t know, she’s getting restless. Last night she hung out at the table behind the motel. What if she goes wandering?”

  “You warned her about the falls, right?”

  He nodded.

  “She’ll be fine. What other trouble could she possibly get into?”

  “Just because we got rid of Mason and that band of assholes doesn’t mean they won’t wander back over here. They respect no boundaries.”

  George stated, “Another woman died last night. It seems they’re going farther to bring people in than the immediate vicinity. The bus that contained Others managed to drive away thanks to Chatan and Loval, but some of the men followed the bus farther and took someone else. We need to be on high alert. Call one of us if you see anything suspicious.”

  Jenna stood up. “What about Jacinda? I was scolded over telling Mason there was a redhead in town who was cozying up to Chatan. Why are we protecting her?”

  Chatan growled, but Loretta put a hand on his shoulder and stood up. “Jenna, remember the state we found those bodies in. Would you wish that on anyone?”

  “And what if they come here, start taking our own people because we protect one outsider?” she snapped.

  Mac stood up. “We won’t allow that to happen, and you best leave that girl alone. No more talking to Mason. He doesn’t care about you. He never did. All you were to him was a way to get under Chatan’s skin.”

  Her eyes blazed as she turned to her father. “I was more than that.”

  He shook his head. “You only see what you want to see. That’s why you still chase men who gave up on you long ago. One day, I pray, you grow up and figure out what’s worth holding onto.”

  Chatan couldn’t take it anymore. Someone died the night before, and now Jacinda was all alone, no one watching over her. He left, climbed into his truck, and drove to the motel.

  Her car was gone.

  He pulled into the lot and parked next to where her car had sat since driving into town and hurried to the window. The vase was still there. That was a relief, but just barely.

  After climbing into his truck, he pulled out his phone and sent a text to Loval.

  Chatan - Hey, she’s not at her room. The car is gone. I’m going to drive around, see if I can find her.

  The reply came fast.

  Loval - If you need me, call.

  Now he needed to figure out where to start.

  Fear pricked his nerves, not his own. Jacinda’s. He felt the tug as if someone pulled a string tied to his waist and he knew what he needed to do.

  Chapter 20

  A sense of urgency rolled through Jacinda at her father’s words. Hurry, little dove. Sneak away while you have a chance.

  She sat upright, looking around. The pillar still glowed, dancing light flickering through the various etchings. Her heart slammed in her chest as she looked down at the bracelet in her hands.

  Five silver disks with four different gemstones, each etched with a symbol. The same symbols in the string she touched on the pillar, minus the dove. The one was missing.

  A branch snapped down the trail, and Jacinda hurried into the trees to the right of the path.

  Four men rushed into the circle of sand as she made herself invisible with a spell. She shoved the bracelet on her arm and rushed back to her car, staying off the trail and doing her damnedest not to trip over roots and underbrush.

  “She was here,” Mason snarled. “Find her.”

  There were more shouts and commands, but they were quickly fading. Maybe they were looking in the immediate area and not following the trail.

  She came to where the trees stopped and grass took over. This time there was a giant SUV and a huge truck. Grabbing a rock, she morphed it into a knife and punctured one tire, then moved to the next. She got through all four SUV tires and moved to the truck.

  The guys were shouting back and forth as they approached. Jacinda shoved the blade into the back wheel, then moved up to the front and pushed it in once more, then morphed the blade back into a rock before slipping back into the grass and heading for her car.

  * * * *

  Something seemed off as Mason led the men down the trail. Some strange force rolled toward them as light filled the sky for a brief moment.

  He ran forward, the other guys following.

  The pillar was lit up like Times Square, lights flashing, a whisper of a voice he didn’t recognize. And a hole in the ground right in front of the damned pillar.

  Something had happened, but what? Could they have found something through some ritual? Why wasn’t Josephine taking these whack jobs if that was the case?

  Maybe he needed to point out the problem.

  “She was here,” Mason snarled. “Find her.”

  Butch nodded. “Same scent from Chatan’s truck. Maybe we can bring him in if we can’t find her.”

  “Not until she asks us to take Chatan,” Mason snarled. Wanatoga was right next door to Saint Morton. Josephine had already made it clear that they weren’t to take anyone from the reservation.

  Though Mason would love to have the bastard out of his hair for good. “We won’t find her here.” He started back down the trail. Maybe they could catch her before she got to her car.

  * * * *

  Chatan turned down the road, heading to the pillar. A little black car darted around the corner, narrowly missing his truck. The person in the driver seat had their hood pulled low.

  And he knew it was Jacinda. His phone rang and he switched it to speaker. “What’s up?”

  “Joe called. Bastards are back in town,” Loval warned. “You find her?”

  “Not exactly. Do me a favor. Watch her room for me. I need to take care of these assholes. Make sure they don’t follow her if it was her.”

  “You want me to stay hidden?” Loval asked.

  Chatan gunned the engine. “If you can avoid being noticed, it would be for the best. Let’s not spook her.”

  “Right.”

  Chatan turned off the phone and parked behind the truck. He blocked the assholes in as he climbed out and pocketed the cell phone.

  “Thought you weren’t supposed to be coming back to cause shit,” Chatan taunted.

  “Your little girlfriend got away from us,” Butch growled.

  “What girlfriend? You imagining things again?”
/>   “The redhead Jenna saw you with at the diner,” Mason snapped.

  Chatan’s brow rose. “You ask everyone else in town? Don’t you think someone would have noticed me with a woman? Are you sure Jenna’s not just trying to get you back in bed?” She’d tried similar tactics in the past. And sometimes he had to feel sorry for her antics. She was stupid enough to think she’d somehow win one of them back, which hadn’t happened.

  Butch stalked closer. “Who slashed the tires then?”

  Chatan glanced at the flat tires on both vehicles and couldn’t help a laugh. “Don’t know, but damn near everyone in town was at the meeting, so maybe it was one of your own pranksters. You piss your own town off? That why you’re here harassing everyone?”

  Mason paced away, dialing a number. Maybe it was a tow company. Whatever, as long as it got these fuckers out of there.

  In fact, Chatan called Joe, who was the only one on call most nights. With as little as usually happened on the reservation, he was typically all they needed, as long as Saint Morton kept their idiots to themselves. And sure, Mason was calling someone from Saint Morton, but the faster they got rid of these pricks, the faster everyone could go about their night, and he could check on Jacinda.

  Joe answered, “Don’t tell me those assholes are back.”

  “I won’t, but come down to the turnout before the pillar.”

  “What the fuck?” Joe asked.

  “Just get your ass out here. Maybe call Sisco to tow someone.”

  “This just gets better and better, doesn’t it? I’ll be there in a few. Stay out of trouble.”

  “Gonna try,” Chatan admitted. And his only motivation not to get in a brawl was the fact Jacinda would be back at the hotel before he had a chance to get there.

  Mason stalked toward him. “Who did you call?”

  “Joe, to come out here and make sure you assholes get off our property pronto,” Chatan warned. “He’s calling a tow company as well. Now what the fuck are you doing out here? Vandalizing?”

  “We didn’t do a damned thing but track that witch out here,” Butch shouted.

  “Track a witch? Funny, no witches out here,” Chatan threw back. “And it’s not like you’d have a clue when a real one was standing in front of you.”

  “Oh, stop with that mambo jumbo bullshit. You’re a damned witch,” claimed another of the assholes.

  “Shaman.” And druid, but never mind the second half. Most people assumed he was just a shaman. He went with it more often than not because the explanation didn’t make a damned bit of difference. If anything, it only explained why he was weaker than everyone else. “Remember, most people here are shaman.”

  “Right, like there’s a damned difference.”

  “A world of difference. And let me guess, you believe we’re all devil-worshippers? Then what’s Josephine?” Possibly a fucking demon after coming back from the dead.

  Mason shot forward, ready to swing at him.

  Chatan easily sidestepped him, letting Mason careen into his own truck. “Look, the police are on the way. Which means calm your ass down and deal with the tires of your vehicles so we can get you out of here faster.”

  Butch advanced on Chatan. “You can’t take us all.”

  “Won’t have to,” Chatan offered lightly. Hopefully he hadn’t miscalculated. He could have shifted and flown in to take a closer look, but until he saw a car with someone he suspected was Jacinda, he hadn’t wanted to take a chance.

  Five assholes, one of him. And he could probably walk away, but he wasn’t going to count on that. Joe would likely bring someone with him. God, he hoped so.

  “Look, I get you’re fascinated by some random chick hanging out on the reservation, but I haven’t seen a redhead, and neither has anyone else. You’re wasting your time here.”

  “Not a waste of time,” one of the random assholes blurted out. “We know she’s here, so give her up. She’s not one of yours.”

  “And if there was a woman here, she wouldn’t be yours either. No one is handing any of you assholes anyone.”

  Sirens blared and lights flashed.

  “Damn fucking pigs,” one of the guys sneered.

  “Yeah, well, we’re taking time out of our busy night to help your punk-asses out of here.”

  “You just want us off your land,” Mason answered. “You’re hiding something.”

  “Oh, I’m not hiding shit. It’s no secret I can’t stand any of you. You’re harassing our people for someone who doesn’t exist,” Chatan explained.

  Joe hurried over, Loval on his heels. “What’s the problem now?”

  Chatan wanted to curse, but kept his mouth shut tight. Loval was a deputy. It made sense he was called in at the last damned minute. But with the assholes in the middle of the woods, Jacinda would be safe. He just hoped she didn’t try to bail.

  “Some cunt slashed our tires.” Butch kicked the tire of the truck.

  Joe’s head whipped toward Butch. “Did you see someone slash the tires?”

  “No, but someone pulled out of here before we could get back.”

  “I see no evidence of any other car besides the four vehicles presently here. And isn’t that a rock stuck in the tire?”

  One of the thugs crouched down. “What the fuck is a rock doing wedged into the tire?”

  Mason growled. “Magic.”

  “Magic?” Joe snorted. “Really think someone could cut tires with stone?”

  Yeah, that wasn’t possible. Or was it? There were all kinds of strange magic and Jacinda wasn’t any one thing. Maybe there was a way she did it.

  Chatan turned to Joe. “You two have this? I need to get going.”

  “Where are you going?” Mason demanded.

  “Home.” He hopped back into his truck and took off before he said something to give anything away.

  Chapter 21

  Her thundering heart finally calmed down as she shut herself in the bedroom and quickly opened the window in case she needed a quick escape.

  The bastards tracked her down by some miracle. Why would they assume the pillar? Or had Josephine assumed she’d go for a landmark? How would she know about it?

  Of course, her men knew. She leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes. Hopefully hiding the car was enough to keep them from the hotel. Not that it was totally hidden, but it was back to blue with the original plates.

  Not that she thought they actually saw her car. No, they hadn’t made it to their trucks yet. She had cut it close, though.

  The knock on the door nearly made her jump out of her skin. She hurried to the window and climbed up to slip out.

  Chatan came around the back with a raised brow. “You gonna let me in, or are we hiding somewhere else?”

  She’d seen him on her way back to the main street, but he hadn’t recognized her then, had he?

  “Shit, you scared me.”

  “Imagine my surprise when I found your car gone when I came to look for you.”

  Her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m not a damned prisoner. I can come and go as I please.”

  “Yes, you can. Doesn’t mean I won’t worry when I don’t know where you are. Especially at night, and twice as bad when I know those assholes want to find you.”

  “I’m not afraid of them.”

  “You’re shaking, Jacinda.”

  “Adrenaline rush. Not fear. I can take care of myself.”

  “No one said you couldn’t. Now, are you going to let me in, or am I climbing in?”

  “I wouldn’t try it. You’re pissing me off.”

  He put his hands on the sill, one corner of his mouth tipping up. “Come on, Jace. I only went to the town meeting because I had to. I didn’t want to leave you.”

  She sighed and plopped onto the bed, then pulled her legs up cross-legged. “Fine, come in, since you seem determined.”

  He hopped through the window with ease and stretched out beside her without reaching for her hand. “Why so aggravated with me?”


  “Everyone in general. First you, then your aunt and cousin. Look, I appreciate the concern, but I’m an adult who doesn’t need a constant babysitter. And if you think you and I having sex means you can expect status reports, you can fuck off.”

  Chatan sat up and caught her hands. “No, I don’t expect status reports, and I need to remember you’re not used to checking in with anyone. I don’t have that. Everyone expects me to check in and I’m thirty.”

  “I’m never going to be someone who constantly checks in. Not for anyone.”

  He nodded. “You notice I’m not yelling at you, I’m not telling you to change?”

  “Thanks.

  He blew out a breath. “I want to, but I realize that’s not you. How do you change your car color?”

  “Magic,” she answered simply, not wanting to get into the details of transmuting. Because the car wasn’t just an illusion. It was fully changing the molecular structure, though not by much, to alter the color. She did the same with her hair long enough to get back to the motel.

  “Okay. By the way, Joe and Loval are dealing with those assholes. You slashed their tires?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, wanted a chance to get out of there in my car, not on foot. Wasn’t sure I could outrun them, and I wasn’t sure what they’d do if they found my car, which was hidden with an illusion.”

  “Makes sense.”

  He trailed a finger over the bracelet and smiled. Then he met her eyes. “You found this there, didn’t you?”

  She nodded. “Not quite on this plane, though I’m not sure how to explain that.”

  “Like the island.”

  “Something like that.”

  He turned her wrist over and tipped his head. “It’s missing a stone.”

  She shrugged. “This was how I found it. Mostly. It adjusted itself to fit my wrist. It was larger.”

  He grinned. “More reason to believe you’re the one to help free Dove.”